Pierce Cycles
Cite this book
Citation
Pierce Cycles. The George N. Pierce Company, 1901. cyclearchive.com, https://cyclearchive.com/books/pierce-bicycles-catalogue-geo-n-pierce-co-1901/
Page numbers are pages of the PDF, which can differ from the numbers printed on the page.
Contents
- The company's 1901 preface: the bicycle as the people's vehicle, the development of the cushion frame from the chain-driven model with coaster brake in 1899 through the chainless of 1900 to the Pan-American Special of 1901, and the line offered for the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo.
- The chainless cushion-frame models 292, 294 and 296 for men and 298 and 299 for women, which with the New Departure hub coaster brake are sold as the Pan-American Specials.
- Regular and optional fittings for the Pan-American Special models: forks, crown, rims, tyres, hubs, handlebar, saddle, cranks, pedals, gear, lamp bracket and footrests, with the options available for each.
- The cushion-frame models at $55.00: men's models 282, 284 and 286 in 22, 24 and 26 inch frames, and women's models 288 and 289 in 22 and 24 inch frames.
- Regular and optional fittings for the cushion-frame models 282 to 289, with a rear view of the cushion frame and the choice of tyres, saddles, pedals, chain and lamp bracket.
- A plate for the racer models 271, 272 and 273 in 21, 22 and 23 inch frames, priced at $50.00.
- The racing models for track and road use, with the riders who won on them: Loughead national champion in 1897, Collett the most amateur points in 1898, and Kramer national amateur champion in 1899 and second as a professional in 1900. Regular and optional equipment is listed for the track and road versions of models 271 to 273.
- The special models at $50.00: men's models 261 to 265 in 21 to 25 inch frames, and women's models 267 to 269 in 20, 22 and 24 inch frames.
- Regular and optional fittings for the special models 261 to 269, with a rear view of the special: tyres, handlebar, saddle, cranks, pedals, gear, chain and lamp bracket, and the choice of nickel or black finish.
- The regular line at $40.00: men's models 251 to 255 in 21 to 25 inch frames, and women's models 257 to 259 in 20, 22 and 24 inch frames.
- The regular line, described as the high point of simple rigid-frame construction, with its regular and optional equipment for models 251 to 259: Hartford and Dunlop tyres, Pierce tubular rims, Wheeler Standard and Sager saddles, Bridgeport rat-trap pedals and carmine striped or black finish.
- The handlebars fitted to the models, numbered 211, 212, 218, 132, 142 and 222, with their widths, drops and rise: reversible and stationary bars, the racer bars, and the note that a brake cannot be fitted to the reversible bars.
- Eight saddles offered: Troxel 30-B, Sager 21, Wheeler Standard, Troxel 10-A, Sager 4, Troxel 40-B, Sager 34 and the Persons saddle.
- A numbered list of the chainless drive parts: gear cover, rear and front drive shafts, nuts, brackets, cones, cups, washers, crank axle and the rear hub parts, for the chainless spare-parts order.
- How the chainless cushion frame is built: the bevel-gear drive combined with the cushion, the rear stays and crank box forming a rocker ball bearing at the crank bracket, the Leland-Faulconer gears, and the upper rear stays hinged so the gears stay in line. The page continues the numbered parts list and says the machine needs only oiling, tyre care and cleaning.
- The history of the bicycle from 1818 and the pneumatic tyre of 1890 to the Pierce cushion frame of 1898, and the chainless bevel-gear cushion frame with hub coaster brake, fitted with Leland-Faulkner gears, which the company claims as the high water mark of bicycle perfection.
- The ten claims for the cushion frame: it takes up road shocks instead of the rider's body, is simple and unobtrusive, does not vibrate, lets the rider keep an even power and position, saves the rider's nerves, lengthens the life of the wheel, allows harder tyres, and is the grandest road wheel produced.
- Testimonials from agents and dealers, dated August to October 1900, from Rochester, Great Falls, Tacoma, Louisville, Kansas City, Stevens Point, Detroit, South Bend, Syracuse, Grand Rapids and Toledo, praising the chainless and cushion-frame wheels and their sales.
- Testimonials from named riders on the cushion frame: one who had ridden it since March 1898 for ten thousand miles, others who found it more comfortable than the rigid frame, easier on the saddle and better for hill climbing, and one who would not sell his for $150.
- The cushion parts (spring, brass cartridge, plunger, bushing, washers and dust cap), the cushion A for the 22 inch frame and B for the 24 inch frame, and the springs No. 1 to No. 6 for riders from 100 to 300 lb.
- A lettered section drawing of the chainless cushion frame, with the crank bracket and its ball bearing, the cushion bolted to the seat-post bracket, the hinge at the rear fork ends and the flat spring of three steel sheets at the crank bracket, set against the chain-wheel cushion frame.
- How the cushion works: the saddle-to-pedal distance stays fixed so no power is lost on hills, the wheelbase and sprocket spacing do not change, and the device has no rebound. The spring should match the rider's weight and the factory will exchange it.
- The hub coaster brake offered on any 1901 Pierce model: New Departure or Morrow pattern on chain models, New Departure only on chainless, at an extra $5.00.
- Small features of the Pierce parts: the cranks and axle made in one piece with the cone adjustment on the left, the solid steel flangeless dust-proof hubs adjusted with a spanner wrench, and the double-plate fork crown on all 1901 models.
- The spanner wrench supplied with each wheel, and the handle bar binder and seat post binder: a bolt-and-wedge handlebar clamp, a split-wedge seat post binder, and the note that every machine is fitted and lubricated before it leaves the factory.
- How to adjust and oil the chainless and chain models: crank axle gears and bearings, drive shaft bearings, rear hub bearings, the crank shaft and wheel bearings, with the oiling points for the crank gears and the sealed felt bearings. Owners are advised not to tamper with the adjustment.
- Extra-cost options: full nickeled forks on models 251 to 259 at $1.00, hand brakes on handlebars 218 and 122 at $1.00, special frame sizes at $5.00, full nickel-plated frames on models 261 to 299 at $10.00, New Departure or Morrow coaster brakes at $5.00, and Thor roller bearings at $5.00.
- The gear table for the 28 inch wheel, with teeth on front and rear sprockets, and the instructions to agents: use the order blanks and regular specifications, prices are free on board at Buffalo, claims for returned parts must be marked and explained, and the hub coaster brake needs an 8 or 9 tooth rear sprocket, the 28 tooth for tandems only.
- The 1901 guarantee: the company will repair or replace any defect in material or manufacture of a bicycle delivered at its factory or a branch, provided the serial number is on it, running until 31 December 1901. The page also prints the tyre guarantee, made by the tyre makers and not by the company, which expires on the same date.
- The telegraph code words for each model number for express and freight orders, a word with S added for a coaster brake, and the cable address PIERCYCLE at New York or Buffalo.